Categories

Mar 6 Burning Bush

“When The LORD saw that HE has caught Moses’ attention, GOD called to him from the bush, “Moses! Moses!” (Exodus 3:4 NLT)

“When The LORD saw that HE had caught Moses attention”… that line caught my attention this week. I read this verse a couple of days ago, and I keep thinking, what has GOD done to get my attention recently. How many burning bushes did Moses walk by before GOD caught his attention? A bunch? None? How many have we walked walked past?

Moses, one of the greatest leaders in the Bible, struggles immediately with GOD’s request of him. It’s way too big, too much. He’s certain GOD has picked the wrong guy. Moses saw himself as a fugitive, a goat herder and couldn’t see what GOD saw, what we can see now, from the end of the story looking back. But Moses was perfect for this job.

He grew up in Pharaoh’s court, knew how things worked inside the palace and among the officials. He knew all the officials, and he knew Pharaoh. Moses was Jewish, had leadership ability and because of his troubles he was humble (maybe the greatest trait in a leader).

GOD’s people were saved from famine by going to Egypt. They had become enslaved, fallen on hard times, but they had also grown into a large nation. They were crying out to HIM. He heard every prayer and HIS response to those prayers…Moses.

The LORD patiently convinced Moses to trust HIS plan. Think of all GOD had waiting to show him. Miracles would become commonplace. Moses would hold a staff that could become a snake, would strike a rock causing it to gush water, and would be held up to part a sea while the entire Egyptian army was racing after them. Over and over again, Moses alone went into the Presence of GOD. This first day in the desert, sandals off, on holy ground was literally just a taste of what was to come. A beautiful land, occupied by many nations, overflowing with produce, springs and prosperity was waiting.

All of this was part of GOD’s plan for Moses. Moses stood there barefoot with goats, in a desert, working for his father-in-law wondering if what GOD was asking him to do was worth the risk. If you have ever faced an assignment that challenges your normal, requires you to bet on GOD, you know how Moses must have felt. But let’s look again at Moses’ life after he said yes and see all he saw. He wasn’t jailed or killed when he returned to Egypt. Instead, he led his nation on an Exodus that changed history. He spent the next 40 years with GOD leading him, clouds by day, fire by night.

This verse triggered resolve. If GOD comes to me with an assignment, I need to trust HE has worked out details way beyond what my mind can imagine. HE is likely using me, for some reason I don’t know or understand, to answer the prayer of another, or several others. It isn’t about me, it is about the glory of HIS plan. Once glance at history, or a peek at HIS Creation proves HIS plans are way beyond anything I can muster on my own. No more walking past burning bushes for me. How about you?